INSEE Ecocycle providessafe disposal solution for cocaine for firsttime in Sri Lanka

The sustainable waste management arm of INSEE Group, INSEE Ecocycle, joined hands with the Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) to responsibly dispose 928.2 kg of waste cocaine hydrochloride through cement kiln co-processing for the first time in Sri Lanka. 

The event was held on 15January at INSEE Ecocycle pre-processing facility under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Law and Order and Southern Development Minister Sagala Ratnayaka, Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale, respective Government agencies and industrial experts involved in the process of confiscated cocaine disposal through co-processing.

The waste cocaine was recently confiscated by Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau, followed by the verification of the narcotic material under the guidance of Government Analyst Department (GAD), NDDCB and Attorney General’s Department. Following the recommendation of Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni to safely dispose of the material at temperatures above 1,300℃, INSEE Ecocycle stepped in to provide a safe and comprehensive narcotic material disposal solution. 

INSEE Ecocycle carried out the technical evaluation on pre-processing activities for safe disposal of the dangerous drug with the support of PNB and NDDCB. The technical evaluation included a comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation action plan covering all aspects of environmental and social health and safety areas throughout the pre-processing and co-processing value chain to ensure safe and secure disposal.  

The confiscated cocaine hydrochloride will be co-processed through liquid feeding channel, ensuring minimum exposure to the environment. The confiscated cocaine will be liquefied in an aqueous medium at the INSEE Ecocycle pre-processing facility in Katunayake, ensuring zero residual remains; a colouring agent will be added for visual differentiation. The liquefied material will then be transported for final disposal to the Puttalam cement plant in purpose-built hazardous waste transporting vehicles, escorted by PNB officials.

Disposal will take place at the INSEE Puttalam cement kiln, using the existing kiln temperatureof 1800- 2000℃, ensuring zero residuals remain post-disposal processing. Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) will be carried out during and after the final disposal phase to ensure the environment is exposed to no harmful emissions.

INSEE Cement CEO Nandana Ekanayake said:“We are proud to support a national cause of this nature, contributing towards building a drug-free Sri Lanka by being a responsible corporate citizen. Sri Lanka’s only operational Cement Kiln Co-processing facility is in our Puttalam Cement Plant. INSEE Cement has always focused on occupational health and safety of all our stakeholders; with this first-time initiative to safely dispose a socially harmful substance, we are committed to extend our shared value to the nation.”

INSEE Ecocycle General Manager Sanjeewa Chulakumara explained: “INSEE Ecocycle being the only sustainable waste management business in Sri Lanka having over a decade experience in the industry; we have disposed more dangerous materials over the period amounting to more than 600,000 tons of waste. However, given the sensitive nature and the high security requirement of the narcotic material, ensuring the safe and secure disposal of this material was a greater challenge. We have the support and guidance of PNB and NDDCB experts, throughout the value chain activities, such as, sampling, laboratory analysis, transporting, and many more, up until the final destruction of the narcotic substance.” 

He added: “Hereby we confirm that through our co-processing facility in Puttalam we have completely co-processed the confiscated cocaine hydrochloride safely and securely with zero harm to the society and environment.” 

Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau DIG Sajeewa Medawatte said: “INSEE Ecocycle Pre-processing facility is the country’s only state-of-the-art hazardous waste management facility, equipped with geo-membraned floor, fully-automated fire-fighting system, CCTV operations and Emergency Preparedness plan. The facility has obtained all required licenses (Environmental Protection License and Solid Waste Management License) and certifications such as, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001. We are happy to join hands with them for the safe disposal of confiscated cocaine.”

National Dangerous Drugs Control Board Chairman Professor Ravindra Fernando said: “Laboratory testing conducted by the National Narcotics Laboratory of the NDDCB, as per the order of the Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court Hulftsdorp, revealed the feasibility of disposal of specific court sample with the cement Kiln of INSEE Ecocycle by incineration process.”

Professor Fernando also stated that feasibility studies on the safe disposal of other narcotics including heroin, cannabis and new psychoactive substances using the same disposal procedure were under investigation at the National Narcotics Laboratory (NNL). 

He added: “In addition, the NDDCB has agreed to work on providing scientific recommendations, coordinating, supervising and monitoring of the disposal of court samples along with the Police Narcotic Bureau and other drug law enforcement agencies for fighting against the problem of drug trafficking and abuse in the country.”